Foldable shelf structure



April 3, 1962 1.. HEFTEL 3,028,016

SHELF STRUCTURE 7 Tu Ni V EE I V w w w FIG. 6

INVENTOR. NCE HEFTEL ATTORNEYS April 3, 1962 HEFTEL FOLDABLE SHELF STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 16, 1960 INVENTOR.

HEFTEL E C N E R U A L BY wzww w ATTORNEYS United States Fatent G 3,028,016 FOLDABLE SHELF STRUCTURE Laurence Heftel, 1117 S. Spaulding Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Aug. 16, 1960, Ser. No. 49,918 8 Claims. (Cl. 211-149) This invention relates to foldable shelf structures, and more particularly to multi-shelf structures which may be unfolded for placement, say in the corner of a room, and folded for placement in a narrow straight wall space or for compactness for storage or for packing or shipping.

The modern trend to smaller and more efficiently arranged living spaces has posed some problems concerning making good use'of corners and restricted wall spaces by placement of cabinet furniture having utility, flexibility in handling and placement and aesthetic merit. A general object of the present invention is to provide an improved shelf structure having these attributes and which is characterized by a generally three dimensional appearance when unfolded, and by compactness when folded for facilitating storage or shipment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shelf structure of this general class which is of simple construction as well as having flexibility and adaptability to being used to advantage under difierent conditions, particularly as to placement in a room.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a foldable shelf structure embodying the invention, shown in unfolded condition;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front and top perspective view of the shelf structure in folded condition;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the structure in the condition shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevation of the shelf structure in unfolded condition; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged exploded perspective View showing joining details.

A foldable shelf structure according to the invention comprises generally two hinged similar but not identical sections S, S connected by a vertically extending hinge H. In the unfolded condition of the shelf structure, shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 5, the structure is generally of triangular form as viewed from above. When the sections S, S are moved to the folded position shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the overall shape, in plan, is substantially rectangular.

The shelf structure section S comprises, in the form shown, shelves 1, 2, 3 and 4, all of which are triangular and which are of decreasing sizes from the bottom shelf 1 upwardly to the top shelf 4. In the illustrative embodiment, the shelves, although of different sizes, are substantially in the shapes of isosceles triangles.

The shelves 1, 2, 3 and 4 are connected in vertically spaced relation by upright members 5, 6, 7 and 8, so connected with the shelves that the sides of each shelf are respectively parallel to the sides of the other shelves, the rear corner of each shelf being vertically aligned with the rear corners of the other shelves, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 and as is especially clear in FIGURE 2. With the individual shelf rear corners so vertically aligned, and because of the different sizes of the shelves, the front sides of the shelves are staggered horizontally, in the nature of steps from the bottom shelf 1 upwardly. In addition to the shelf connecting uprights 5, 6, 7 and 8, the bottom shelf is provided with a leg 9 which, together with the uprights 7 and 8, supports the section S on a floor.

The shelves 1, 2, and 3 are formed with vertically aligned notches at one side between the ends of the sides, as indicated at 10, for receiving the upright member 8 which serves as a hinge anchor, as later explained, as well as for connecting the shelves. Advantageously, the notches 10 may be of generally V-shape so that the hinge anchor 8 of rectangular section will extend at substantially 45 to the notched shelf sides. However, the notches may be of other shapes, such as semicircular, providing necessary measures are taken to mount the hinge anchor in the required relative position. In detail, the upright member 8 is notched at 11 for receiving one wall of each of the shelf notches 10 so as to provide a strong and interfitting load bearing connection between the hinge anchor and the shelves. For a similar purpose, the top of the anchor S is notched at 12 for receiving the bias-cut corner 13 of the top shelf 4.

The other section S is similar to the section S described above in detail, with the exception that the section S is reversed as to rightand left-hand as compared to the section S, and certain shelves of the section S are spaced differently from the spacing of corresponding shelves of the section S. The parts of the section S are therefore denoted by reference characters corresponding to the characters applied to parts of the section S, with the exception that the characters applied to parts of the section S are primed. Thus, the shelves 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the section S correspond respectively to the shelves 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the section S, and so on.

As shown most clearly in FIGURE 5, the front sides of the shelves 1, 2, and 3 opposite their vertically aligned rear corners are staggered vertically with respect to the corresponding shelves 1, 2 and 3' of the section S, the arrangement being such that when the sections S and S are moved to the folded position shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, shelves of one section respectively overlap corresponding shelves of the other section.

The hinge H may advantageously be of the continuous or piano hinge type having its wings secured to the anchor members 8 and 8 with the vertical hinge axis traversing the contiguous sides of the corresponding shelves, preferably substantially midway between the rear and front ends of the contiguous sides of the bottom shelves 1, 1'.

The illustrative construction is adapted to be conditioned for being placed variously, according to room arrangement requirements. For example, for placement in the corner of a room, the sections S and S may be pivoted about the hinge axis to the unfolded position shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 5, in which the vertically offset shelves of the section S generally constitute horizontal extensions of the corresponding shelves of the other section S, each pair of vertically corresponding shelves together providing a composite triangular shelf area about twice the area of each component shelf of the pair. For placement against a wall away from the room corner, and where limited wall space is available, the structure may be folded to the position shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, with the shelves 1, 2' and 3 overlapping the shelves 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The structure may then be placed with the upper corners, as viewed in FIGURE 4, against the wall. The front of the structure will then present an attractive arrangement of stepped or receding composite shelves, each of which is V-shaped at the front.

Folding of the sections S and S to the position shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 also efi'ects compactness to meet storage or packing and shipping requirements. In this condition, the maximum overall corner-to-corner shape of the structure, as determined by the size of the bottom shelves 1 and 1', is substantially rectangular, thus adapting the structure for being packed in shipping containers of standard rectangular form; The hinge anchors 8 and 23 extend from each other at about 90 when the structure is unfolded as shown in FIGURE 2, out are engageable with each other for limiting movement of the sections S and S to the folded position shown in FIGURE 4.

The disclosed construction embodies the invention in a preferred form, but it is intended that the disclosure be illustrative rather than definitive, the invention being defined in the claims.

I'claim:

l. in a foldable shelf structure, two sections, each comprising a plurality of triangular shelves and upright members attached to said shelves for supporting said shelves in vertically spaced relation with the respective sides of shelves in each section being parallel with each other; and a hinge connecting the two sections for relative pivotal movement about a vertical axis, certain of the shelves of one section being offset vertically with respect to corresponding shelves of the other section, whereby said two sections may be pivotally moved in one direction to folded position with shelves of one section overlapping shelves of the other section and may be pivotally moved in the opposite direction to unfolded position in which the shelves of each section generally constitute horizontal extensions of vertically corresponding shelves of the other section, each pair of vertically corresponding shelves then providing a composite triangular shelf area twice the area of each shelf component thereof with the components of individual pairs of vertically corresponding shelves then having mutually adjacent parallel edges.

2. In a foldable shelf strcture, two sections, each comprising a plurality of triangular shelves and upright members attached to said shelves for supporting said shelves in vertically spaced relation with the respective sides of shelves in each section being parallel with each other; and a hinge connecting the two sections for relative pivotal movement about a vertical axis traversing one edge of each of certain of said shelves between the ends of said shelf edges, certain of the shelves of one section being offset vertically with respect to corresponding shelves of the other section, whereby said two sections may be pivotally moved in one direction to folded position with shelves of one section overlapping shelves of the other section and may be pivotally moved in the opposite direction to unfolded position in which the shelves of each section generally constitute horizontal extensions of vertically corresponding shelves of the other section, each pair of vertically corresponding shelves then providing a composite triangular shelf area twice the area of each shelf component thereof.

3. in a foldable shelf structure, two sections, each comprising a plurality of triangular shelves and upright members attached to said shelves for supporting said shelves in vertically spaced relation with the respective sides of shelves in each section being parallel with each other and the shelves of each section being of decreasing sizes from bottom to top of the section; and a hinge connecting the two sections for relative pivotal movement about a vertical axis, certain of the shelves of one section being offset vertically with respect to corresponding shelves of the other section, whereby said two sections may be pivotally moved in one direction to folded position with shelves of one section overlapping shelves of the other section and may be pivotally moved in the opposite direction to unfolded position in which the shelves of each section generally constitute horizontal extensions of vertically corresponding shelves of the other section, each pair of vertically corresponding shelves then providing a composite triangular shelf area twice the area of each shelf component thereof with the components of individual pairs of vertically corresponding shelves then having mutually adjacent parallel edges.

4. A foldable shelf construction comprising two sections, each of said sections including a plurality of tri angular shelves of different sizes, and upright members connecting said shelves in vertically spaced relation with the respective sides of shelves in each section being parallel to corresponding sides of the other shelves and with one corner of each shelf being vertically aligned with a corresponding corner of each other shelf of the section, whereby the sides of said shelves opposite said vertically aligned corners thereof are staggered horizontally relatively to each other, the other two sides of each shelf being vertically aligned respectively with the corresponding other two sides of the other shelves of said section; and a hinge connecting the two section for relative pivotal movement about a vertical axis traversing one of said other two sides of each shelf of both sections, said axis being spaced horizontally from the vertically aligned corners of the shelves of both sections toward the staggered sides thereof.

5. A foldable shelf construction comprising two sections, each of said sections including a plurality of triangular shelves of different sizes, upright members connecting. said shelves in vertically spaced relation with the respective sides of shelves in each section being parallel to corresponding sides of the other shelves and with one corner f0 each shelf being vertically aligned with a corresponding corner of each other shelf of the section, whereby the sides of said shelves opposite said vertically aligned corners thereof are staggered horizontally relatively to each other, the other two sides of each shelf being vertically aligned respectively with the corresponding other two sides of the other shelves of said section, vertically aligned notches in said shelves at a side of the section where shelf sides are vertically aligned, and each section having a hinge anchor extending vertically in said notches and being secured to the notched shelves; and a hinge secured to the hinge anchors ofboth sections for connecting said sections for relative pivotal movement about a vertical axis spaced horizontally from the vertically aligned corners of both sections.

6. A foldable shelf construction comprising two sections, each of said sections including a plurality of triangular shelves of different sizes, upright members con-t necting said shelves in vertically spaced relation with the respective sides of shelves in each section being parallel to corresponding sides of the other shelves and with one corner of each shelf being vertically aligned with a corresponding corner of each other shelf of the section, whereby the sides of said shelves opposite said vertically aligned corners thereof are staggered horizontally relatively to each other, the other two sides of each shelf being vertically aligned respectively with the corresponding other two sides of the other shelves of said section, vertically aligned notches in said shelves at a side of the section where shelf sides are vertically aligned, and each section having a hinge anchor extending vertically in said notches and being secured to the notched shelves; and a hinge secured to the hinge anchors of both sections for connecting said sections for relative pivotal movement about a vertical axis spaced horizontally from the vertically aligned corners of both sections, certain of the shelves of one section being offset vertically with respect to corresponding shelves of the other section, whereby said sections may be pivoted in one direction to folded position with shelves of one section overlapping shelves of the other section.

7. In a foldable shelf structure, two sections each comprising a plurality of triangular shelves and upright means attached to said shelves and supporting the latter in vertically spaced relation with the respectively corresponding sides of shelves in each section being parallel with each other, the shelves being of decreasing sizes from bottom to top of the section, one corner of each shelf being vertically aligned with corresponding corners of the other shelves of the section, the two sides of each of said shelves which extend from the vertically aligned corners thereof being also vertically aligned with the corresponding two sides of the other shelves, and the third sides of said shelves being in horizontally staggered relation; and a hinge connecting said two sections to pivot about a vertical axis substantially midway between the line of vertical alignment of said shelf corners in each section and the third side of the bottom shelf of each section.

8. In a foldable shelf structure, two sections, each comprising a plurality of triangular shelves, upright means attached to said shelves and supporting the latter in vertically spaced relation with the respectively corresponding sides of shelves in each section being parallel with each other and with certain of said shelves being offset vertically with respect to corresponding shelves of the other section, the shelves being of decreasing sizes from bottom to top of the section, one corner of each shelf being vertically aligned with corresponding corners of the other shelves of the section, the two sides of each of said shelves which extend from the vertically aligned corners thereof being also vertically aligned with the corresponding two sides of the other shelves, and the third sides of said shelves being in horizontally staggered relation, vertically aligned notches in a plurality of shelves of each section Where shelf sides are vertically aligned in that section and are contiguous to vertically aligned shelf sides in the other section, said notches each having a wall at substantially 45 to the notched shelf side, and, in each section, a shelf anchor of rectangular cross section extending vertically in said notches and being secured to said notch walls; and a hinge secured to the hinge anchors of both sections for connecting said sections for relative pivotal movement about a vertical axis traversing the larger bottom shelves substantially midway between the ends of the notched sides of said bottom shelves, said sections being pivotally movable relatively in one direction about said axis to unfolded position in which the hinge anchors of said two sections are at substantially to each other and in which the shelves of each section generally con-v stitute horizontal extensions of the vertically corresponding shelves of the other section with each pair of vertically corresponding shelves providing a composite triangular shelf area twice the shelf area of each shelf component thereof, said sections being pivotally movable relatively in the opposite direction to folded position in which the hinge anchors of said sections are substantially parallel to each other and cooperable with each other for limiting the folding movement of said sections to a relative positioning thereof in which certain of said shelves of one section overlap vertically corresponding shelves of the other section and in which the overall corner-to-corner shape of the overlapped bottom shelves of the two sections is substantially rectangular.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 61,837 Stockdale Ian. 23, 1923 194,663 Falk Aug. 28, 1877 1,455,569 Caminoni -1 May 15, 1923 2,326,864 Keeshen Aug. 17, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,070,254, France Feb. 14, 1954 

